UN official shows concerns over isolation of Gaza

A senior UN official on Monday expressed concerns over the isolation of the Gaza Strip, saying that the costal enclave is more isolated these days than any time else.

Roper Serry, the UN special coordinator to the peace process in the Middle East, said in a statement that he is more concerned that basic crucial humanitarian issues remained unresolved in the Gaza Strip.

Serry, who had a visit in Gaza for two days, said many Israeli restrictions on the commercial and individuals movement at crossing points controlled by Israel are still unchanged.

"The closure of Rafah border crossing point between Gaza and Egypt is still closed," the UN official said, adding that the UN has been calling on all parties to put an end to the ongoing closure of the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, he stressed that achieving settlement in Gaza and helping its economy to grow up "needs permanent ceasefire and a legal unity to recognize the Palestinian government that carries out its mission and perform properly."

He also called on all factions and political powers to be committed to the unity government, which was formed last June after an agreement reached between the Hamas movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party.

Serry also called on the unity government and the Palestinian factions as well as Israel, Egypt, the international community and the donor countries to change their policies toward the Gaza Strip and consider the enclave a priority for them. Enditem